A judge is forcing Whole Foods to reopen its failed 365 store

A judge is forcing Whole Foods to reopen a 365-branded store that it closed in October, after the property owners sued the grocery chain.

This marks the second recent ruling in which a major chain has been forced to reopen closed stores.

A judge has ruled in a separate case that Starbucks must keep operating 77 Teavana stores that it planned to close

As these mall operators become increasingly desperate to keep the lights on, many more retailers could find themselves in court, fighting to shut down dying stores.

A judge is forcing Whole Foods to reopen a Seattle-area store that it closed in October.

Whole Foods has 14 days to reopen the store, according to a preliminary injunction issued this week by a King County Superior Court, the Seattle Times reports.

11 ways to save at Whole Foods:

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11 ways to save at whole foods

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11 ways to save at whole foods

Be wary of dairy in glass containers

If you grab milk or cream from a glass bottle, you'll be charged for the price of the bottle in addition to its contents. If you must purchase the glass bottle version of the product, be sure to bring it back to Whole Foods next time you're shopping and customer service will give you a voucher.

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Bring your own bags

Whole Foods will offer you a five to 10 cent discount from your total for bringing your own bag.

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Don’t buy Whole Foods pre-packaged containers of fruits and veggies

You'll end up paying way more and receiving way less. Always opt for the full version of the fruit or vegetable and prepare it yourself.

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Take advantage of bulk meat deals

Deals on bulk amounts of certain meats vary from location to location. Ask the butcher about what bulk meat deals your local Whole Foods is offering.

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Look for bright yellow tags

Special deals (that only last for a few days or a week) are unadvertised outside of the store but can be found while shopping by their bright yellow tags.

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Check out specialty online coupons

You can enter your local Whole Foods store online and print off coupons and deals that are specific to your local Whole Foods--some coupons are valid for up to three months.

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Buy cases of products you like and save 10 percent

Whether it's protein bars or wine, Whole Foods will discount a case-sized version of your product for 10 percent, a well worth it investment if it's a product your consuming often.

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Shop the Friday-only sales

Stores will offer specialty Friday-only sales that can offer you major one-day savings.

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Shop the Whole Foods 365 value brand

The store's value brand is extremely well-priced and will offer you the healthiest version of discounted products, as there will be a significantly lower amount of preservatives than other discount brands, according to Whole Foods.

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"Like" your local Whole Foods' Facebook page for news on special deals and discounts

Deals will vary from store to store and are always advertised through social media.

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Bring your own containers when shopping the bulk section

When weighing your bulk purchase at checkout, Whole Foods will subtract the price of the weight of your container if you bring your own from home instead of using the ones provided in the store.

The judge's ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the owners of the Bellevue Square shopping center where the store is located. The mall owners have sued Whole Foods for breaking its long-term lease by closing the store.

Whole Foods has continued to pay its rent on the property despite closing the store, but the mall owners say that's not enough. They want the store to reopen.

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"We don’t want a check," David Nold, the lawyer representing the mall, told the Seattle Times. "We want Whole Foods to open and operate."

This marks the second recent ruling in which a major chain has been forced to reopen closed stores, as a result of lawsuits filed by the property owners.

A judge has ruled in a separate case that Starbucks must keep operating 77 Teavana stores that it planned to close after Simon Property Group, which operates malls around the country, sued Starbucks to keep it locked into its leases for those stores.

The recent rulings are a sign that mall owners are starting to fight back against the deluge of store closures rocking the retail industry, which could make it increasingly difficult for major chains to shut down stores.

It has been a record year for store closures, with retailers shutting down more than 5,000 stores so far and putting more pressure on mall operators to fill vacancies.

As these mall operators become increasingly desperate to keep the lights on, many more retailers could find themselves in court, fighting to shut down dying stores.